Planographic printing machine



3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 29, 1936. H. MORSE PLANOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINEFiled Nov. e, 1935 LIQ y w 22 v Y N 5 t Q um m u #a Q l 1" S Q i; s, 0I0 '3 A( t@ l\ R 99 @Uw u Q i m FIG'. 1

A FIG.

Dec. 29, 1936. 1 H. MORSE 2,065,535

PLANOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 6, 1935 5 SheetS-Sheet 2 a t fya Dec. 29, 1936. H. MORSE PLANOGRAPHICPMNTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6,1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lOI, PRINTING.

Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES G'CII UII HUUII PATENT' OFFICEPLANOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Lawrence H. Morse, Cleveland, Ohio,assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland,Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application November 6, 1933, Serial No.696,808

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement for planographic printingmachines, and is especially concerned with a repellant applicator forrotary planographic printing presses. p

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, automaticmechanism for readily supplying the proper quantity of repellant to theprinting plate, according to the rotation of the latter. y f

A further object is to provide a construction and arrangement of rollsfor delivering a suitable chemical solution to a rotating printing plateof the lithographie type, to form a moist coating on the plate as asubstitute for the water application in ordinary lithography.

Other features of my invention Will hereinafter be more fully set forthin connection with the following description, which refers to apreferred embodiment of the invention, shown in the drawings, whereinthe invention is incorporated in a printing machine suitable forlithographie printing. The essential features of the invention will beset forth in the claims.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a centrally located verticalsection through a planographic printing press having my improvedrepellant applicator incorporated therein; Fig. 2 is a tcp view of myapplicator; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section as indicated by thelines 3--3 on Figs. l and 2; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of my repellantapplicator looking from the lrighthand side of Fig. 2; Figs. 5 and 6 arefragmentary sectional views, as indicated by the vcorrespondinglynumbered lines on Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of the drivingmechanism for a fountain roll; Fig. 8 is a sectional detail, the planeof the section being indicated by the line 8-8 on Figs. 5 and '7; Fig. 9is a sectional detail as in-` dicated by the line 9-9 on Fig. 1.

Referring again to the drawings, and especially to Fig. l, I illustrateone lform of planographic printing machine to which my improvedrepellant applicator is readily adapted. Such printing machine comprisesin general a pair of main frame plates A, spaced apart by suitabletransverse frame members C. A pair of supplemental frame plates B, aresecured to the respective main frame members A as will be hereinaftermore fully described, and support .certain parts of an inking mechanism,as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Journalled in the frame plates B is a pattern roll shaft I0, on which asuitable pattern roll II is drivingly secured. This roll carries on itsperiphery a planographic printing surface, having the image to beprinted reproduced thereon in the usual manner. As shown, the printingsurface is provided by a removable plate I2, theV end portions of whichare held within a gap Illa in the pattern roll.

The plate I2 comprises a comparatively thin, flexible, metallic member,one end of'which is provided with suitableperforations (not shown) butthrough which lugs I4 carried by the roll II project. The plate I2 isthen wrapped about the periphery of the roll and suitable openings (notshown) at the other end thereof embrace lugs I5 carried by a retainingplate I6. The retaining plate is supported by arms I'l, which extendinto the gap IIJa of the roll I I, and rotatably embrace the shaft I0.Suitable springs I8 are interposed between the arms I1 and the roll IIto draw the plate I2 tightly into contact with the periphery of theroll, and to maintain it taut during the printing operation.

The pattern roll is inked by an inking mechanism to be hereinafter morefully described, and the inked image of the plate I2 transferred to thesurface of a transfer or offset roll 20, which lies forwardly (to theleft, Fig. 1) of the pattern roll II. As shown in Fig. 1, the oifsetroll 2U comprises a cylindrical roll similar to the pattern roll, and isdriyingly mounted on a shaft 23, which is journalled in suitablebearings in the main frame A. A blanket 2| composed ofA rubber or othersuitable ink-transferring material is secured to a carrier plate 22,which is mounted on the periphery of the roll 20 in the same manner asthe pattern plate I2 is mounted on the pattern roll II, heretoforedescribed in detail.

The ink pattern or image which is transferred to the offset roll 20 fromthe pattern roll I2 is then impressed or transferred to the material tobe printed, by such offset roll. As shown in Fig. 1, a suitableplaten'roll 30 is driyingly mounted on a shaft 3 I, which is journalledin the frame plate A, beneath the oiset roll 20. The material to beprinted is fed over the surface of a suitable guide table 32 to the biteof the offset roll 20 and the platen roll 30, and .thereby receives itsimpression from the offset roll.

The ink supply is carried ina suitable reservoir or ink fountain E, andis fed to the pattern plate I2 by a pair of spaced form rolls 4I and 42,

lwhich lie to the rear of the pattern roll II, as

fountain roll 44. A suitable flexible fountain plate 45 is secured tothe fountain frame, and its lower edge is adjustably maintained againstthe fountain roll 44 by a series of adjusting screws, one of which isVshown in Fig. 1 at 46.

The ink is removed from the fountain E by the fountain roll 44 andtransferred to the form rolls 4I and 42 by suitable ductor roll and aseries of transfer and distributor rolls. 'I'he ductor' roll preferablycomprises a rubber-covered roll and is rotatably mounted between theupper ends of a pair of rock arms 48, which are secured to a rock shaft49. 'I'he shaft 49 is oscillated in any wellknown manner, so that theroll 41 moves alternately into contact with the fountain roll 44 and thetransfer roll 50, the latter being rotatably journalled in the frameplates B. The transfer roll 50 in turn contacts with a pair of transferrolls 5I and 52. The roll 52 transfers ink to.l a transfer roll 54,through the medium of a roll 53. The rolls 5I and 54 contact with adistributor roll 55, which, in turn, distributes ink to the two formrolls 4I and 42.

The pattern roll, the offset roll and the platen roll 30, as well ascertain of the rolls of the ink fountain, may be driven in anyWell-known manner. Suffice it to say that they are driven insynchronism, and that a suitable gear |00 (Fig. 3) is secured to thepattern roll I I to drive the ink repellant applicator, hereinafter tobe described in detail.

My invention includes an ink repellant applicator, generally indicatedat 60, and which is mounted between a pair of frame plates 51, which aresecured to the frame plates B, heretofore mentioned. As shown in Figs.1, 5 and 6, a quantity of ink-repellant, which is a chemical solution,is carried in a suitable fountain trough 60, the repellant in thefountain being automatically replenished from time to time, as willhereinafter be more fully described.

Suitable mechanism is provided to transfer the repellant from thefountain roll 6I to the plate I2 in a manner capable of ne adjustment,so that repellants which are required in small amounts with muchaccuracy may readily be used. Such repellants are generally chemicalsolutions, usually more viscous than water, but the chemicalcharacteristics thereof forming no part of the present invention.

Mounted with its lower edge in the trough is a fountain roll 6I. Thefountain roll 6I is preferably a metallic roll-brass, for instance,-having a knurled or otherwise roughened surface, generally indicated inFig. 2, at 62. This roughened surface enables the roll, consequent uponits rotation, to pick up a quantity of repellant from the fountain andcarry it upwardly along its surface, so that it may be transferred to asuitable ductor roll 63. The knurled or roughened surface of themetallic roll 6I, being devoid of capillary absorption, actsmechanically to raise a small quantity of liquid into position Where theductor may engage it, without danger of supplying an excess. Ashereafter described, this roll 6I is intermittently given a step-by-steprotation, and thus has short periods of rest, enabling surplus liquid todrain from it.

The ductor roll 63 is covered with a felt Aor other liquid absorbentmaterial and is rotatably mounted on a shaft 64, journalled in the upperend of a pair of arms 65 mounted on a suitable rock shaft 66, which, inturn, is journalled in the frame plate 51, and is oscillated to causethe ductor roll 63 to alternately move into contact with the fountainroll 6I and a suitable distributor roll 61. The distributor roll 61 iscarried by a suitable shaft 68, which is journalled in the frame plates51. The roll 61 transfers the repellant to a form roll 15, which isrotatably mounted on a suitable shaft 16, carried by the frame plates51, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The form roll 15 preferably comprises a rubber roll and lis covered witha layer of felt or other moisture absorbing and retaining material suchas molletin and serves to apply a thin coating of moisture to thepattern I2.

In lithographie printing it has been found that the repellant form rollcollected ink which remained on the plate or pattern after the transferto the offset roll of the main body of ink. The accumulation of such inkon the form roll of the repellant applicator has in the past requiredeither frequent changing of the form roll or the addition of mechanismto clean the roll. The latter prolonged the period of time a form rollcould be used without removal for a thorough cleaning.

I have found that I may entirely overcome the above nameddisadvantage,namely, the transfer of: ink from the plate to therepellant form rollby providing suitable transfer and form roll surfacecoverings. As shown, and heretofore mentioned, the form roll 1 5 iscovered with a moisture absorbent felt, such as ingldletin, while thetransfer roll 61 is a metallic roll and is covered with a comparativelythin covering of fabric material such as duck, or other woyenafabric ofa substantially reglr grain and with little or no fibrous nap, incontrast with the grainless-- brousraterial comprising wthe covering ofthe form roll. ""M

Theation of these covered rolls 15 and 61 and the pattern I2 is suchthat the ink does not accumulate on the form roll 15 unless anoversupply is fed to the pattern by the inking mechanism. Hence, thisconstruction eliminates for all practical purposes the accumulation ofink on the repellant formroll. In actual use, the form roll 15 appearsto receive a small amount of ink from the pattern I2. However, this inkupon contact with the contrasting fabric of the transfer roll 61 appearsto be broken up and is subsequently restored to the pattern I2 when suchink again contacts with the pattern. It is as if the ink has a greateraffinity for the pattern than for the repellant-saturated form rollwhich has been re-supplied with repellant between the time of theremoval of the ink from the pattern and the replacement thereof.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 the fountain roll 6I and the form roll15 of my repellant applicator are positively driven. The form roll 15is, as heretofore mentioned, rotatably journalled on a shaft 16, one endof which hasV a portion 80, which is journalled in an eccentric bushing8|. The' other end has an eccentric stub 82, which is journalled in abushing 83, which is secured to the frame plate 51 by a suitableretaining screw 54. Thus, by rotating the shaft by means of a knob 88,the shaft may be adjusted to move bodily to or from the printing plateI2, thereby regulating and adjusting the pressure between the roll 15and the printing pattern or plate I2.

As shown in Fig. 3, the left-hand end 86 of the shaft 16 is providedwith a series of notches or.

recesses 86, which coact with a spring-pressed plunger or ball 81, sothat the shaft may be readily' positioned to any one of a number ofpredetermined positions, thereby enabling the pressure to be regulated.This arrangement also retains the shaft in the desired position. Thebushing 8|, which is eccentrically mounted in the frame, may be given apartial rotation to raise or lower the left-hand end of the shaft 10,and thereby permit the operator to align the roll 13 accurately with theprinting plate i2, so as to enable the entire length of the roll tocontact with the plate with even pressure. A suitable screw 09 (Fig. 2)secures the bushing in place, once it is adjusted.

The roll 15 is driven from the pattern roll by the medium of the gear|00, heretofore mentioned. As shown in Fig. 3, the gear meshes with agear 90 of a composite gear member, which is journalled on the bushing03, and which is drivingly connected through the medium of an Oldhamcoupling 9|, the inter-engaging portions of which have sufficient lostmotion to permit the roll 13 to be driven, under frictional influencewith the pattern I2, at a slightly greater speed than the positive driveof the gear. The roll 15 will be positively driven across the gap in thepattern roll to secure a fresh supply of repellant at all times, butwhen in engagement with the plate, will have a true rolling actionthereon, preventing any differences in peripheral speed between the two.The coupling also provides for non-alignment of the axis of the roll andthe axis of its driving gear.

The ductor roll shaft 60 is oscillated bya cam 95, which is rotatablymounted on the bushing 83, heretofore described; and coacts with aroller 96, carried by one arm of a bell crank 91, rigidly secured to theductor roll shaft 00. A suitable spring 98 interposed between the otherarm of the bell crank 91 and a relative stationary part of the mechanismmaintains the roller 90 in contact with the periphery. of the cam 35.

The cam 95 is driven from Vthe gear |00 heretofore mentioned. As shown,the gear |00 meshes with the gear 90, and a gear member |0| integralwith or drivingly secured to the gear 90 meshes with a gear |02, whichis rigidly secured to a stub shaft |03, ,iournalled in a suitablebushing |04, carried by the frame vmembers 51. A suitable gear isrigidly secured to the stub shaft |03, and meshes with a gear |06, whichis drivingly secured to or integral with the cam member 95, therebyrotating the .cam.

member.

The fountain roll 6| is intermittently give-'riva los. As shown-'at'Figs. l, 4, 5 and '1,.the fountain roll 0| 'is rigidly` partial rotationby the gear.

secured to a shaft H0, journalled in the frame members 51. Secured tothe outer end of the shaft ||0 is a ratchet which is intermittentlyadvanced by a pawl Il! carried by a plate H3, which is rotatably mountedon the shaft ||0. A suitable link ||4 is connected at one end to theplate H3, and at the other end to a pin ||5 eccentrically carried by thegear |06. 1n this manner the pawl isintermittently driven to advance theratchet a number of teeth at a time. A suitable spring ||1 (Fig. 4)serves to maintain the pawl in contact with the ratchet.

The amount of rotative movement imparted to the ratchet wheels iscontrolled to 'regu late the amount of repellant transferred to theductor roll 63 from the fountain roll 6I. As shown, a flanged disk |20is rotatably secured to the shaft |I0, and is provided with a camsurface |2|, which coacts with a pin |22, on the pawl H2, and disengagesthe pawl from the ratchet ill, at a predetermined point during the roll03 out of contact with the fountain roll gage the neck stroke of theplate H3. A spring-pressed plunger |23 engages notches |24 in the disk|20, and maintains the disk in any one of several adjusted positions,whereby the position of the cam surface may be adjustably positioned-tochange the effective stroke of the pawl ||2. A lever |25 is secured tothe disk |20 to enable the operator to readily vary the effective strokeof the pawl H2, as more or less repellant is required.

When the mechanism is idle, it is desirablel to maintain the form rollout of contact with the pattern roll, and also to maintain the ductor0|. This is useful, for instance, when the mechanism be rotated tochange pattern |2. The form roll is readily moved out of contact withthe pattern roll I2 by merely turning the knob 08 and adjusting theposition of the eccentric shaft 92, heretofore described.

To maintain the ductor roll out of contact with the fountain roll 0|,the operator, immediately before shutting down the machine, throws alever |30, (Figs. 4 and 5) to the right, thereby placing the lowermostend of the leyer in contact with a pin |3| carried by the arm |32 of thebell crank 91, heretofore described. The spring 98, heretoforementioned, is connected to the arm |32 of the bell crank and to theupper end of the lever |30 above its pivot |32. The arrangement is suchthat when the parts are in their normal position, as shown in Fig. 4,the spring 98 serves both to maintain the roller 90 in contact with theperiphery of the cam 95 and to maintain the lever |30 idle, that is,swung in a clockwise direction.

When the lever |30 hasI been manually moved i from the idle positionshown in Fig. 4 to the operative position shown in Fig. 5, the springpasses from one side to the other of the pivot of the lever |30, andwhen so positioned the spring serves to maintain the pin I3| on the arm|32 of the bell crank 91 in contact with the lower edge of the lever|30, and also to maintain the lever |30 swung in a counter-clockwisedirection, as shown in Fig. 5. The movement of the lever |30 may berestricted in both its counter-'clockwise-'and clockwise directions byany suitable means, such as the boss |34 of the frame plate 51.

I have found it desirable, because of the chemical `characteristics ofthe repellant, to provide a tively small amount of liquid. I alsofnd itadzvisable to arrange the trough so that the repellant may beautomatically replenished and the level of the uid in the troughmaintained substantially constant. For this purpose I provide the troughwith an upstanding tubular-portion |40, vas shown in Fig. 6, the lowerend of the tube opening into the trough, as at |4I, and the upper endprovided with suitable threads |42 to enof a bottle or suitable storagereservoir or container |43. Hence, as soon as the repellant is loweredbelow the bottommost line of the tubular portion |40 of the trough, airwill be admitted into the container |43 and will replace enoughrepellant to bring the level in the trough substantially to the bottomline of the tube |40. v

As heretofore mentioned, the frame members B are carried by the frame Aand support lthe pattern roll the in 'ng mechanism and the repellantapplicator mechanism. Hence, by moving the frame B relative to the frameA, the

V:pattern is moved away from the offset roll as a unit,4 with the inkingand repellant applicator mechanisms. I find this highly advantageous inthat after the machine has been idle the pattern roll must be given anumber of rotations to properly distribute the ink and repellant thereonbefore a print may be taken.

It is accordingly preferable to pivot the frame B as at |50 to the mainframe plates A and to provide an eccentric arrangement such as theeccentric shaft IBI, Fig. 9, to swing the frame B about its pivots |50and thereby move the pattern -roll Ii out of contact with the offsetroll 20. A suitable lever I 52 is provided to enable the operatorreadily to adjust the relationship between the frames. The eccentricarrangement above described has been simplified for ease of illustrationand may in practical use comprise an arrangement whereby the frames arelocked in either of two adjusted positions, namely, with the offset andpattern roll contacting or out of contact as desired by the operator.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that by my invention theliquid repellant is supplied to the plate before the image reaches thefirst-acting form roller, by means of an applicator roller which isperiodically supplied with repellant in a novel manner from a repellantfountain which is automatically maintained lled with repellant to apredetermined level at all times. The repellant applicator rollers, bymeans of their peculiar coverings, are adapted to return to the plateimage any ink which may be offset therefrom temporarily onto therepellant form roll. The throw-off device enables the repellantapplicator, the inking system and pattern roll to be operated togetherwithout making a transfer whenever desired, to elfect the most desirabledistribution of ink and repellant. These'various characteristics providea very effective device suitable to produce planographic printing bytheemployment of ink and a repellant in the form of a chemical solution.

I claim:

1. In a planographic printing machine, the combination of a trough tocontain liquid, a fountain roll having a roughened metallic surface.coacting with the liquid in said trough, a bodily shiftable ductor rollhaving a comparatively thick liquid absorbent andstorage coveringarranged to intermittently coact with said fountain roll, a roll toreceive liquid from said ductor roll, said last-named roll having acomparatively thin fabric covering, and means to transfer moisture fromsaid last-named roll to a printing plate.

2. In a planographic printing machine having a plate, the combination oia receptacle adapted to carry liquid, a fountain roll immersed in saidreceptacle and having a roughened surface, means for rotating thefountain roll, a bodily movable ductor roll and means for causing it toperiodically engage the fountain roll in a region between the liquid andthe top of the fountain roll on that side of the fountain roll which hasjust left the liquid.

3. In a moistening system for a planographic printing machine, thecombination of a trough adapted to carry liquid, means for maintainingthe liquid at a constant level, a roller adapted to be immersed in theliquid in said trough and having a non-absorbent roughened surface,means for giving periodic partial rotations to the fountain roll tocause it to lift liquid bodily from the trough, a bodily movable ductorroll, and means for causing it to contact periodically with an upwardlymoving region of said roller directly above the trough, whereby theductor roll may carry away moisture raised by the trough roller.

4. In a planographic printing machine the combination o f means forcarrying the plate, a form roll having a rubber sheathsurrounded byfabric, an intermediate roll having a thin fabric covering, a ductorroll having an absorbent iibrous covering, a metallic fountain rollhaving a roughened surface, and means for moving the ductor roll betweenthe metallic fountain roll and the fabric-covered intermediate roll.

5. In a planographic printing machine, the combination of a form rollcovered with a moisture-absorbing fibrous material, a transfer rollcoacting therewith and comprising a non-absorbent body covered with acomparatively thin covering of woven fabric material of substantiallyregular grain with little or no fibrous nap, in contrast with grainlessfibrous material, covering the form roll, a fountain roll, and means forfeeding repellant from the fountain roll to the transfer roll. i

6. In a planographic printing machine, a fountain adapted to carryliquid, a metallic surfaced fountain roll adapted to be immersed in theliquid, meansy to impart an intermittent rotative motion to said roll, ametallic transfer roll covered with a woven fabric having substantiallyno nap thereon, one resilient form roll in contact with said transferroll and adapted to transfer liquid to a printing member and a ductorroll covered with absorbent material adapted to transfer liquid from thefountain roll to the form roll.

LAWRENCE H. MORSE.

